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Things to know
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The
Threats for the Dolphins
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Today the blue planet is a dangerous
place with many threats for dolphins, which are mainly caused by man. The scientific
estimates of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (www.wdcs.de.org) assume
an annual bycatch of about 300'000 whales and dolphins - solely caused by the
deep-sea fishing industry. The majority of them are dolphins. Moreover, overfishing
of the food resources for dolphins are becoming scarce.
Another problem: The marine mammals are at the end of the food chain. Over the
years, they accumulate through the food intake high pollutant concentrations.
It comes to organ damage, reproductive rate decreases, the immune system is
weakened, and the mortality rate is increasing.
In addition, many confounding factors
impact on the habitat of the dolphins:
A key factor for animals living in
the sea is the vessel traffic with
its immense high noise levels. |
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River
dolphin populations are often separated
by the construction of dams and, consequently,
the genetic diversity for the continued
existence is no longer guaranteed.
Not to mention the caught dolphins
in the aquarium tanks - an issue which
itself is dynamite.
Yet another threat is omnipresent: Dolphins are being followed for commercial
reasons. The so-called "Drive Fishery", the bloodthirsty hunt in Japanese
waters and also on the Faroe Islands, which belong to Denmark.
This all results that today many of the 35 marine and 5 river dolphin species
are threatened or endangered highly. This statement is given by the conservation
organizations and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). If not acted
quickly, the endangered species could become extincted in the foreseeable future.
The clock for this disastrous and extremely worrying development runs - incessantly!
(Source: www.unterwasser.de)
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Horrible
Slaughter of Dolphins in Japan
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During drive hunts, fishermen panic
and confuse migrating pods of dolphins
and other small whales with loud banging,
then herd them, by the hundreds, into
shallow coves, and then butcher them
one by one.
Every year, more than 20,000 small
cetaceans of several species, some
of which are endangered, including
bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins,
spotted dolphins, Risso's dolphins,
short-finned pilot whales, white sided
dolphins, and false killer whales,
are killed or taken in the drives,
sometimes illegally.
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This
cruel and inhumane practice is sanctioned
and controlled by the Government of
Japan, which claims that these animals
compete with the fishermen and slaughtering
them is a means of pest control, but
no evidence for this claim exists.
The dolphins are processed and used
as pet food or fertilizer and the
government is encouraging the consumption
of dolphin meat.
For the first time there is now a video available to public. Please be aware
that this video is indeed very cruel but it shows how ignorant, inconsiderate
and brutal those animals get slaughtered.
(Source: www.thepetitionsite.com)
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